The Hard Easy
Before we begin, a word of caution: the idea that I am about to give you is an infectious one. It sticks irrevocably, like when someone tells you to notice your breathing and then tells you to stop, but you…
Category Knowledge & Technique
They Just Keep Dying: Why ‘Experienced’ Riders are Dying in Predictable Avalanche Accidents, and What We Can Do About It.
At about 10:15 in the morning on April 20th, 2013, five snowboarders and one skier met in the parking lot of the Loveland Pass ski area for a backcountry tour up the Sheep Creek drainage They were participants in the Rocky Mountain High…
Find a Good Partner, Be a Good Partner
Today, I want to talk about partners. I have had the great fortune of stumbling into some life-changing partnerships through my development as a climber and a skier, and these partnerships have without-question helped to shape both who I am…
The Munter Hitch for Ski Mountaineering
It’s time again. For what you ask? For me to download some more knowledge into your brain. Today, we’re talking Munter. The munter hitch is, or at least should be, considered essential climbing knowledge. Without it, should you forget or drop your belay…
Choose Your Tools: Skiing light, fast, and far.
This is Part 5 of the Choose Your Tools series. Also check out Part 4: Universal Gear Truths. Going Light The world’s lightest ski boot, the Pierre Gignoux XP-444. 590g. You don’t need these. Going fast and light is, among…
Choose Your Tools: Universal Gear Truths
This is Part 4 of the Choose Your Tools series. Also check out Part 3: The Seven Needs of Backcountry Travel. Before delving further into the specifics of gear selection for the backcountry, there are some universal truths that need to be carved into stone.…
Choose Your Tools: The Seven Needs of Backcountry Skiing
This is Part 3 of the ‘Choose Your Tools’ series on Gear Selection for Backcountry Skiing. See also Part 2: Avalanche Hazard and Safety Gear If you were ever a boy scout, or made fun of one, then you’ve probably…
Choose Your Tools: Avalanche Hazard and Safety Gear
This is Part 2 of the ‘Choose Your Tools’ series on Gear Selection for Backcountry Skiing. For Part 1: Introduction Click Here. Or check out the next in the series: The 7 Needs of Backcountry Travel Backcountry skiing is an…
Choose your Tools: Gear Selection for Backcountry Skiing
I am excited to announce this project, which will be ongoing over the course of the next few weeks, published in digestible parts. I hope to produce a resource that’s valuable to you, whether you’re new to ski-touring or a backcountry master.…
Mounting Dynafits at Home
I’ve skied for around 20 years now. My first pair of skis, Salomon X-Screams, are the sort of ski that’s now being turned into fences and benches in ski towns around the US. Since that pair, I’ve cycled through many…